Niger Bandits Abduct More Than 20 Farmers, Council Chairman Puts Victims at 47

Suspected bandits have abducted farmers in separate incidents in Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State, with conflicting figures emerging over the number of victims. The local government chairman put the number at 47, while the state police command confirmed that more than 20 people were abducted.

The victims were reportedly attacked while harvesting groundnuts at Tungan Rimi in Ma’undu-Beri Ward. The incident was said to have occurred on Saturday afternoon, with armed men also taking some people working on nearby farms.

Mariga Local Government Chairman, Alhaji Aliyu Bagga Muhamadu, confirmed the incident in a telephone interview. He said reports reaching him indicated that one of the abducted women had given birth while in captivity.

The council chairman also said the abductors had contacted some relatives and were demanding a ransom of N2 million for each victim. He said security personnel and local vigilantes had been mobilised to locate and rescue those being held.

According to the chairman, the joint security team encountered the suspected bandits around Alibani village after passing through Kasuwan Garba and Biri. A vigilante was reportedly injured during the encounter.

Other sources said the armed men were seen moving through areas between Mangoro and Wamba after allegedly emerging from the Dogon Dawa axis. The attackers were also reported to have moved into the Bariki Forest, also known as Ma’undu, where the victims were suspected to be held.

However, the Niger State Police Command reported a different account of the number of people abducted. Police spokesman, SP Wasiu Abiodun, said more than 20 people were abducted at Mukura village in the Kasuwan-Garba District of Mariga Local Government Area.

Abiodun said the incident was reported on September 28 and occurred at about 3pm on September 27. He added that joint security rescue efforts were ongoing. The conflicting figures have not been reconciled, while relatives of some victims are still seeking information about their whereabouts.